Advent Devotional

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Rolling Hills Community CHuRCH
3550 SW Borland Road · Tualatin, OR 97062
rollinghills.org | info@rollinghills.org

Supervising Editor: Gary Strudler
Creative Contributors: Tim McDonald, Michael Novelli,
Dayna Stamnes, and Jeff VandenHoek
Design/Creative Editor: Regina Hutchinson
Editorial Support: Carolynn Wheatcraft
and thanks to the volunteers who assembled this devotional.

© Rolling Hills Community Church 2010-2011

About this Devotional
This devotional is meant to be used to the max. Draw, write, cut things out, rip out
pages – do whatever it takes to make this time very personal for you, those you
live with, extended family, and friends. Get everyone to interact with one another
and ultimately to hear what God has to say to each of you. Every household looks
different, but that does not matter. Even living alone, you can discover all kinds of
things about Christmas you may not have known. Why is this devotional called
Fearless? As God approached His people concerning the arrival of His Son, it was
said, “ Do not be afraid…” Enter this Christmas season fearless and filled with faith in a
God who is passionate about having a relationship with each and every person.

There are six weeks to this devotional. The first week can be done at home or as
a Worship Service. There are then four weeks of Advent and a final devotional you
can do Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.

Each week has
• sHARing Hear how others in the family have experienced Christmas.
• REwinD Review what you experienced the week prior and give an opportunity
to follow up on commitments family members have made.

• nARRAtivE Here is the Scripture written out from various sources. Tell it with
enthusiasm and passion. Your children may have special books they want the
Christmas story read from.

• REplAy Some options will be given here to retell the Bible story in creative ways.
• REflECt Discuss and discover truths from the story.
• REsponsE Experiential ways to personally connect God’s Story to my story.
• BlEssing End by giving your family a blessing from the Bible.

wHy tHis mEtHoD?
This devotional is designed around a learning method called Bible Storying. It’s
purpose is to create a place for us to discover and join God in His Story. Did you
know that most of the Bible is written as stories? Jesus was a Master Teacher as
a storyteller. With stories, we discover who God is and His relationship with His
people. We have the opportunity to personally relive the story and not just recall
information. The Holy Spirit can then speak to us about how to be disciples and
followers of Jesus Christ.

The storying process allows us to retell the story several times through exploratory
questions and creative means that engage all learning styles. It draws in everyone,
young and old alike. Everyone can give input and we become cojourners in the
spiritual journey of discovering our place in God’s Story. You will discover that
young and old alike can learn from one another about God and His ways.

wHAt is ADvEnt?
The season of Advent is the four Sundays just before Christmas. It prepares our
hearts for celebrating Christ’s birth on Christmas Day. There are various traditions
that families and churches follow to make this time meaningful, including creating
an Advent wreath, opening daily calendars, and the weekly lighting of candles.
Reading different portions of the biblical account is practiced as well. You can go
online and find different traditions that may suit your family more than others.

For this devotional, you will see that the candle lighting ceremony is incorporated
each week. The lighting of candles usually signifies that something important is
about to happen. There is a reason to light each new candle, but candles from the
previous weeks are lit as well, so as to build anticipation of what is about to happen.
Memories are made and Christmas becomes more meaningful. ENJOY!

DRAw, wRitE, Cut tHings out, Rip pAgEs,

tHis is youRs!

in tHE BEginning
sHARE
Have one or both of the parents share their earliest memory of Christmas. What
was special about it? What emotion do you remember most? What traditions do
you still do today?

nARRAtivE
Jesus was always in God’s perfect plan to restore a relationship with Him; it did not
just happen at His birth. Though the prophets did not have the full picture about the
arrival of the Messiah, what each gave was very significant. Though not a complete
narrative, you can look at these different prophetic verses and their fulfillment
concerning Jesus’ birth.

#3
Isaiah 9:6-7
Ephesians 1:21

#2
Isaiah 53 Isaiah 7:14
#1 Hebrews 10:1-22 John 1:14
Isaiah 7:14
Luke 1:28-35

#4
Micah 5:2
Luke 2:4-7

image of puzzle heart
REsponsE pERsonAlly ConnECting goD’s stoRy to my stoRy
in REmEmBRAnCE
Many times Christmas ornaments have a special meaning or significance for us
to remember or to tell others about. Each person in the family can decorate an
ornament to tell what it means personally that Jesus is Emmanuel, God with us. Larger
ornaments are on the next two pages, which can be torn out for younger children.

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week #1 - HopE
prepare the way of the lord
BiBlE stoRy Luke 1:5-25; 57-80
Zechariah in the Temple and the birth of John the Baptist

notE:
Do somEtHing DiffEREnt tonigHt to pEAk EvERyonE’s AttEntion.
Make it an “unplugged” night where there is no electricity or a night where
electronics are not allowed. As Zechariah had to do without the use of words, have
this be a night when you do without something important.

sHARing
Hope is wishing for something to happen. Have someone share a story of a time
when they were hoping for something at Christmas and it happened.

REwinD REviEw pREvious wEEks’ stoRiEs AnD REsponsEs
• Last week, you decorated a prophesies that were said about
Christmas ornament to remember Jesus before he was born. How do
who Jesus is. In what ways do these prophesies give you hope?
you hope to celebrate Christmas How can you share this hope with
differently this year? others this week?
• During the Sunday services last • Light the candle for this week.
week, we lit the Christ candle (the Let the children know that we will
one in the center) and saw how be talking about someone God
Jesus was part of God’s plan from was sending to give the Israelites
the beginning, long before Christmas hope and to get them ready to be
day. Re-light another Christ candle rescued.
and take turns naming the different

nARRAtivE
Zechariah was a priest who was married to Elizabeth. They were an older couple
who pleased the Lord by obeying Him. Sadly, they were not able to have children
of their own.

There was a day when Zechariah had the chance of a lifetime. He got to enter
the Holy Place of God’s temple. Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared to him.
Zechariah was shocked and very much afraid. The angel said to him, “Zechariah
don’t be afraid! God has heard your prayers and your wife Elizabeth will have a son.
Give him the name John. He will make you very happy and everyone will be so
excited for you. John will have the job of getting people ready for the Messiah. He
will teach parents how to be more thoughtful of their children and how everyone
is to obey God.” Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I believe this? Do you know
how old we are?!”

The angel answered, “I am Gabriel and I was sent to tell you this good news. Since
you don’t believe me, you won’t be able to say a thing until all this happens. Trust
me, everything will take place just as it is supposed to.”

Outside the Temple, people were getting worried because Zechariah was in the
Temple so long. When he finally came out, Zechariah could not say a word. He
and Elizabeth went home. Soon, just as Gabriel had told him, Elizabeth was going to
have a baby boy.

After the child was born, it was time to give him a name. Everyone just expected
him to be called Zechariah because that was his dad’s name. But Elizabeth said, “No!
His name is John.” The people did not think this was right and so they motioned to
Zechariah to find out what he wanted to name his son.

Zechariah motioned for a writing tablet and on it he wrote, “His name is John.”
Everyone was shocked. Zechariah then realized he could speak and he began
praising God.

Everyone wondered what God was going to do with this special child. John would
grow up and speak for God, telling everyone that they did not need to be afraid of
God, because He would forgive their sins if they confessed them to Him. People
without God were living in the dark and God was going to shine a light in the
darkness so there would be a path for everyone to come to Him.

REplAy
REtEll tHE BiBlE stoRy in A CREAtivE wAy

ACting out

stuff nEEDED
• Get a box and fill it with bathrobes, kitchen towels for headdresses, sandals, etc
The box will be used to store costumes that can be used for the remainder of the
month. Have everyone take a part and get dressed up to act out today’s story. Since
Zechariah lost his ability to speak, act out the story without any words. If you want, you
can give out sections of the story and have family members act it out in charades.

Maybe your family does not like to act things out. Try a Pictionary-type game
instead, where each person selects a different section of the story and draws it
while other family members try to guess what is happening.

REflECt DisCuss AnD DisCovER tRutHs fRom goD’s stoRy
• Who were the main characters in today’s story?
• What do you think it was like for Zechariah to have an angel visit him in the Temple?
• How do you think God speaks to us today?
• Gabriel gave Zechariah some great news – what was it?
• In regards to this story, I like it that…
• The baby was born and given the name John. What was so
special about what he was going to do?
• What special job do you think God has for you to do?
• Something new I learned today about God’s Story is …

#1 Joy BoX
Look around your house and name the things that have brought you great joy. How
did these things bring you great joy? Who in your life needs to experience that
kind of joy this Christmas? How could you share these things with someone this
Christmas? Are there some things that God may have you give to someone else so
they can experience the joy you have? Pray about one thing to share and see what
happens when you share joy with another person!

A DiffEREnt iDEA
Give each child a certain amount of money and go
shopping, filling up a bag or box that can be given
away. Many places have an Angel Tree where you
can purchase a gift for a child with no other means to
receive a Christmas present.

#2 JERusAlEm nEws
What do you sense God wants you to do with today’s story? Pretend that your
local newspaper is writing an article because you are bringing HOPE to your
community. Write a headline and the beginning of an article based on what you
believe God is calling you to do. (There is an extra blank newspaper article in the
back of this book).

BlEssing
Personalizing the words that Zechariah prayed over John, a prayer for your family
could be:
God has prepared a way for you to come to the Lord. Through Jesus, you will find
hope. May God’s tender mercy be upon you. May you receive the light of Jesus so
you don’t have to sit in the darkness.

pHotos
Have each person take a picture
of what they really like about
Christmas and share.

week #2
sHinE: Jesus is the light of the world
BiBlE stoRy Luke 1:26-56
Gabriel visits Mary

sHARing Have someone share a story about when
they were able to help someone else without
getting rewarded for it; they did it just because
they knew it was the right thing to do.

• Review the stories and light the candles from the previous two weeks: Emmanuel
lesson and the birth of John the Baptist. Work together to retell these stories.
• If you were able to give some things away this past week, share that experience
with the rest of the family. What surprised you? What did you discover about
yourself through that experience?
• Light the candle for this week. Let the children know that we will be talking about
shining for Jesus. Though it was not going to be easy, Mary was willing to be
used by God. Just like Mary, we can “rejoice in God my Savior” and let Jesus be
evident to everyone else by what we say and do.

nARRAtivE
God sent the angel Gabriel to a young woman named Mary who lived in the town
of Nazareth. Mary was engaged to Joseph who was from the family of King David.
The angel greeted Mary and said, “Don’t be afraid. God has chosen to bless you.
You will become pregnant and have a son. You are to give him the name Jesus,
which means ‘God saves,’ and not only will He be the greatest of all men, He will
become a king whose kingdom will never end.”

Mary was confused by Gabriel’s words and she asked him, “How can this happen? I
am not even married!”

He answered her, “This will happen supernaturally, by the Holy Spirit, so your baby
will not only be your son, but He will be called God’s Son. Remember, nothing is
impossible with God!”

Mary said, “I want to serve the Lord! May everything you have said come true.”
Suddenly, Mary realized that Gabriel was gone.

A short time later, Mary went to visit Zechariah and Elizabeth. When Mary went
into their home, Elizabeth said to her, “God has blessed you more than any other
woman! That little baby inside you also has God’s blessing. As soon as I heard you
come in, my baby leaped for joy inside me. Do you want to know why the Lord has
blessed you? It’s because you believed that He will keep his promise.”

Mary praised the Lord with her whole heart. She understood that this was not about
her, but about God and what He was doing. He always shows kindness to those
who will worship Him and who show kindness

REplAy REtEll tHE BiBlE stoRy in A CREAtivE wAy
stoRywHEEl
Come up with fouR drawings or phrases that retell the story of Mary being visited
by Gabriel, God’s messenger angel.

DRAw or wRitE them on the fouR sECtions of the storywheel below.

On the nEXt pAgE you will see the other part of the wheel, with the notch or
window for the pictures to show through.

Cut out tHE wHEEl AnD tHE winDow. If you have a brad, connect the two
parts of the wheel together so the story unfolds as the wheel is turned. Take turns
telling the whole story after the wheel is done.

REflECt
DisCuss AnD DisCovER tRutHs fRom His stoRy
• What amazes you the most about this story?
• Does anyone know what position Gabriel has in the Army of Angels? Of all the
angels, I wonder why God would send him to talk to Mary.
• When Gabriel first approached Mary, he told her not to be afraid. I wonder why
What would your response have been? How was Mary going to be part of
God’s Story?
• How would you respond if an angel came to your bedroom one night?
• Mary’s response was to worship God and be willing to do whatever God asked of
her. As we approach Christmas, how would God want us to worship Him as a family?
• Why is it important to you that God came to live with us?
• How might God have you be part of the God Story this Christmas season?

Take some time tonight to be quiet and still before the Lord. After hearing this story
about Mary discovering she is going to the mother of Jesus, God’s only Son, what is
God asking of you? Is God asking you to be a light in some dark places? What would
make you afraid? Can you hear the angel saying, “Do not be afraid”? Is there something
you are really hoping for this Christmas? How can you give up that expectation? Is
there something you need to be praising God for even though it is a difficult situation?

#1 tHy woRD
stuff nEEDED:
• Access to ITunes to download the song Thy Word by Amy Grant
Fear is one of the biggest things that stops God’s light from shining through us.
The angels that appeared before the different people in the Christmas story kept
telling them to not be afraid. Listen and respond to the song sung by Amy Grant.
What is making you afraid right now? How might God and others come alongside
you to build trust and begin removing the fear? Is there a Bible verse you need to
memorize this week to help you when you are afraid?

Cut out tHE wHEEl AnD tHE winDow

Silly!
This page is already
being used by the
front side of me.
Have fun!

#2 it’s in tHE CARDs
• Shuffle and deal several playing cards to each person. Based on the suit of
the cards they received, each person is to “play” a card and answer one of the
following questions. You might want to play several rounds of this before the
evening is over.
• Clubs: Is there someone who needs to know the real meaning of Christmas?
Is there something you can give them that would help them understand what
Christmas is about? It might be a nativity set, an ornament, a special Christmas
card, or a Bible.
• Hearts: What is a feeling you had when listening to today’s story?
• Diamonds: What is something really important to you that you learned from the story?
• Spades: What is something you feel God would have you do based on what you
heard from the story?

BlEssing
Taken from Mary’s response to Gabriel: May you
have a heart filled with praise and joy in God our
Savior. May you see how God continues to do
great and wonderful things for you. Be a light for
Jesus so all the world will see that there is a God
who loves them.

week #3
Joy: Joy to the world the lord Has Come
Shepherds are visited by angels and see Jesus

sHARing
Joy is a feeling we have when we are expecting something good to happen. When
did you feel joy today? Have different family members share about what it’s like
trying to go to bed on Christmas Eve because you are expecting something really
good to happen on Christmas morning. Some might share how their hopes for
Christmas have changed because of doing this devotional together.

• Light the first three candles and have different family members take turns telling the
stories behind each one.
• Remind everyone about being the light and not being afraid to let Jesus shine
through us. How were you able to be a shining light for God this past week?
• This week we will light the fourth candle and see who gets to experience the joy
of Jesus’ birth.

nARRAtivE
It was a very dark night. The only light was the twinkling of the stars in the sky
above. Outside Bethlehem, a group of shepherds gathered in the night to watch
over their sheep. All of a sudden, there was a bright light which seemed to come
out of nowhere; God had pushed away all of the darkness. An angel of the Lord
appeared to the shepherds, terrifying them! But the angel comforted them, “Don’t be
afraid! I have good news which will bring everyone great joy! Today in Bethlehem,
where King David grew up, God has sent One who will save you and restore your
relationship with Him. He is the Lord, the Messiah you have been waiting for. You will
know who He is because you will find Him wrapped snugly in strips of cloth and
lying on a bed of hay.”

In a flash, thousands of other angels appeared, praising God and saying, “Glory to
God in the highest! Peace on earth to everyone who pleases God.”

Just as quickly as the angels had come, they disappeared. The shepherds were
buzzing with excitement. They couldn’t believe what had just happened. “We must
go to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has told
us.” Off they went, racing each other down the hill. They went right to the place
where the angels told them to go, and there they found Mary and Joseph and the
baby, wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger filled with hay. This manger
normally held food for animals, but now it was filled with the One who would be
the Savior of the world. Seeing is believing.

The shepherds marveled at all they had seen and heard. They couldn’t hold it
in. They had to tell everyone they met what the angels had said about this child.
Everyone was listening and they were amazed. Later, the shepherds returned to
their sheep. They couldn’t stop praising God, for everything had turned out exactly
as they had been told. He was here. The long-awaited Messiah had come.

Back at the stable, Mary sat quietly and kept all these things like a secret treasure
in her heart. She kept thinking about them over and over. God’s promises were
coming true right before their eyes. But this was only the beginning…

REplAy
#1 imAginARium
Have everyone lay in a circle with their heads in the center. They
can close their eyes while one person rereads the story. Imagine
being one of the shepherds as the story is retold. What do you see,
hear, feel, taste, and smell?

#2 fiElD tRip
Here are a couple of ideas for field trips you can take to make your
story come alive:

• If you know someone who has a pasture and a barn, take the
family there and re-enact the story. If this is not available to you, go
to a big park with an open field where you can sit and tell the story.

• Go to a hospital’s baby ward and admire the differences in the
babies. Tell the story of the angels coming to the shepherds to announce the
Good News of Jesus being born. Discuss the difference between being born in a
hospital versus a barn. What other things do you see and hear? How are people
responding to the birth of a new baby? Parents, tell what it was like for you when
your kids were born.

• The shepherds were the first ones to be told about Jesus’ birth. Anyone
remember what the angels said to the shepherds? I wonder why God chose the
shepherds. How did they know where to go?
• On their way down the hillside, what do you think the shepherds were saying to
one another?
• I wonder what it was like for Mary and Joseph to hold God.
• For you, what is the most amazing part about this true story?
• Why do you think God sent His Son Jesus to be born on Christmas?
• If Jesus were to come today, where do you think God would have Him be born?
What kind of parents do you think He would have?
• After being with Jesus, the shepherds could not hold in their excitement. They
went and told everyone what they had seen and heard. What do you think they
told everyone?
• Who would God want you to share with about what really happened on that first
Christmas? What will you tell them?
• Something I now realize about Jesus is …

REsponsE
pERsonAlly ConnECting goD’s stoRy to my stoRy
#1 sHARE tHE Joy
Get a bag of miniature Almond Joy candy bars and give some to each person at the
beginning of the day. Before leaving the house, gather everyone for prayer. Ask the Holy
Spirit to prompt you as to people who need some joy at school or work. Throughout the
day, as you sense God’s nudging, give a Joy bar to a person who needs His joy!

#2 skywRiting
The shepherds looked up and saw a whole army of angels in the sk,y praising God. The
shepherds were told not to be afraid because they were about to receive some great
news, which would bring great joy. What is something you would want to tell someone
about the great news of Jesus’ birth? You can write it in the sky in the picture below.
(There are extras in the back of this book).

BlEssing
Lord, may we let your name be known wherever
we go so others can have your joy. Bless each
person with greater faith so we can be fearless.
We want to please you in all that we say and do.
Amen.

week #4
pEACE: waiting in Anticipation
Anna and Simeon see Jesus

spECiAl notE Our children are used to being served throughout the day. Turn
the night around and have the kids serve the parents. All of the characters in the
Christmas story were people who gladly served the Lord. Anna and Simeon were
no exception. Make it a big deal about how pleasing it is to the Lord when we serve
one another.

sHARing
We have peace when we are in a good relationship with God and one another.
Have someone share how they were able to make peace with another person.
Someone also may want to share how they began to have peace with God when
they began their relationship with Jesus.
REwinD

REviEw pREvious wEEks’ stoRiEs AnD REsponsEs
• Retell the previous Advent stories while lighting their designated candles.
Give different family members an opportunity to tell as much of a story as
they can.
• How did you share the meaning of Christmas with others this week? What
happened when you shared the Almond Joy bars?
• By sharing with someone, you were part of God’s Story. How did you feel
giving God’s joy to someone? Do you think you or the other person ended
up with more joy?!
• Light the last Advent candle as you prepare to hear about some people
who were waiting for Jesus.

nARRAtivE ph’s child would be Jesus’ parents were
speechless –
s being said about
Mary and Jose amazed by what wa id
e meaning “savior.” eon turned and sa
called Jesus, a nam their son. Then Sim
urs will cause
en to them by an to Mary, “This child
of yo
This name was giv ll be a
angel before He wa
s born.
many in Isr ael to fall, but He wi
Thou gh God may
joy to many others. k against
s born, Mary have sent Him, many will spea
Soon after Jesus wa this opposition will
to Jerusalem Him. Just know that
and Joseph took Him for you. Mary, it will
break
God. When they be difficult
to dedicate him to epest thoughts of
ple – a place of your heart. The de
arrived at the Tem ts will be revealed.”
an old man many hear
worship – they saw
was a good man
named Simeon. He
d God’s Spirit told named Anna
who loved God. An Then an old woman
uld not die until he and began praising
Simeon that he wo came up to them
essiah. tantly in the
had met the real M God. She was cons ht
Temple, worshipi ng God day and nig
n going with out
to Mary and gently by praying and ofte
Simeon came over ement, Anna bega
n
arms. Then Simeon food. In her excit
took the child in his lling them that the
saying, “Lord, you talking to people, te
began praising God, d been waiting for
had
ything. Just as you Messiah they ha
are ruler over ever
en with my own been born!
promised, I have se
all people. He will
eyes the savior of
ur people and be , Jesus’ pa rents
grow up among yo Not long after that
als your message Naza reth in
your light who reve returned home to
yone throughout Galilee. Th ere Jesu
s grew up
of salvation to ever
will bring honor to . He was fill ed
the entire world. He healthy an d st rong
l. d by God an d by
your people in Israe w ith w isdom, love
.
everyone He met

REplAy

sCAvEngER HuntOn the next page you will
find the events of today’s story. Cut them into slips of paper
and hide them around the house for everyone to find.
The slips should then be brought back and put in sequential
order. See who wants to be first to retell the Bible story
without using the slips. Give everyone a chance to try.

• Joseph and Mary took Jesus to the Temple to dedicate Him when He was 8
days old. If you have dedicated your children, take time to tell your kids why you
did it and what it was like.
• Why were Anna and Simeon at the Temple?
• What was their response when they saw Jesus?
• I wonder how they knew Jesus was God’s Son? How do you know Jesus is
God’s Son?
• Simeon said that Jesus would be the Savior for how many people?
• What do you think was going on in the hearts and minds of Mary and Joseph
when this was happening? How about Anna and Simeon?
• What did you like about today’s story?
• If Jesus were to come into your home right now, how do you think you would
respond? What is the first thing you would want to say to Him?
• What amazes you about God?

Cut tHEsE in slips...

wHEn JEsus wAs 8 DAys olD, mARy AnD JosEpH took Him to JERusAlEm to
pREsEnt Him to tHE loRD.

tHEy gAvE An offERing to tHE loRD wHEn tHEy DEDiCAtED JEsus.

simEon livED in JERusAlEm AnD wAs wAiting foR tHE pRomisED onE to
ComE, foR goD HAD sAiD HE woulD sEE Him BEfoRE HE DiED.

lED By tHE Holy spiRit, simEon wAs in tHE tEmplE, AnD took BABy JEsus in
His ARms AnD pRAisED goD.

simEon sAiD somE AmAzing tHings ABout JEsus, AnD JosEpH & mARy wERE
AmAzED At wHAt wAs BEing sAiD.

AnnA wAs Also in tHE tEmplE. sHE wAs vERy olD AnD stAyED DAy & nigHt
At tHE tEmplE woRsHipping goD.

AnnA sAw JEsus AnD BEgAn pRAising goD.

sHE tAlkED to EvERyonE wHo HAD BEEn wAiting foR tHE pRomisED king

JEsus’ fAmily REtuRnED to nAzAREtH wHERE HE gREw up HEAltHy AnD
stRong, fillED witH wisDom AnD witH goD’s spECiAl fAvoR.

#1 watching & waiting picture
This family is looking out into the distance. What are you anticipating God to do in
the New Year, individually and as a family? You can draw or write out everyone’s
responses in the picture below.

#2 Design a Christmas Billboard
Design a billboard to let others know of the arrival of Jesus - the Good News for
the Christmas season!

BlEssing
Lord, thank you for giving us Jesus. May you live in peace because you have seen
Him. May Jesus be your light to show you the way and bring you great joy and
peace. May you grow up like Jesus to be healthy and strong. May you be filled with
God’s wisdom and may God place His special favor upon you.

CHRistmAs
EvE/DAy
CHRistmAs REwinD: fearless
BiBlE stoRyMatthew 1:18-2:13
Review and Celebration of Christmas

sHARing
If someone from a different country, where they know nothing about Jesus, were to
come to your Christmas celebration, what would they think Christmas is all about?
From what they have experienced, when they return home, they would tell their
family and friends that Christmas is…

• Pass a rubber band around and have each person share how they have been
stretched this month because of this devotional.
• Who did you tell about the true reason for Christmas? How have they
responded? How did you feel when you told them?
• When lighting the Advent candles, save the center Christ candle for last. As you
light each of the other candles, retell the stories of Zechariah, Mary, Jesus being
born, and Anna and Simeon.
• Light the center Christ candle.

Here is the remarkable story of been with a man will have a baby boy

nARRAtivE Jesus’ birth. Mary was engaged
to Joseph, but before their
wedding, Mary was pregnant
and going to have a baby. This
child was God’s Son, but Joseph
and they will call him Emmanuel, which
means ‘God with us.’”

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem,
some wise men from the Far East
didn’t know that. Joseph was a
arrived in Jerusalem. They asked King
good man who loved God and
Herod, “Where is the newborn King? We
he decided to quietly end his
have been following His star and now
engagement to Mary so she
we want to worship Him.” After meeting
would not be disgraced.
with the religious leaders, everyone
agreed with what the prophet Micah had
As he was thinking of all this, said, “God’s shepherd – the Messiah –
Joseph had a dream. During his would be born in Bethlehem.”
dream, an angel of the Lord came
to him and told him, “Joseph, don’t
The wise men left and continued to
be afraid to take Mary as your
follow the star until it stopped over the
wife. The child in her is from God.
place where Jesus was… right there
Give him the name Jesus, which
in Bethlehem. They were so excited!
means ‘God saves,’ for he will save
When they went inside the house and
the people from their sins.” Joseph
saw the child with Mary, His mother, they
woke up from his dream and did
immediately knelt down and worshipped
exactly what the angel told him.
Him. They then gave the gifts they had
It happened just like the prophet
brought for Him: gold, frankincense,
Isaiah had said hundreds of years
and myrrh. Jesus, this child of God, was
before: “A woman who has not
being honored as the King.

REplAy REtEll tHE BiBlE stoRy in A CREAtivE wAy
RigHt lEft CHRistmAs stoRy
stuff nEEDED:
• The same object, candy, or ornament for each person participating
• One object that can easily be passed and is something everyone would want
more than the other objects being used
This is a fun family activity that retells the Christmas story. Give each person an object,
with one person receiving the special object. As the story is being read, objects are
passed to the right or left as directed by the story. When the story is finished, everyone
gets to keep the object they are holding. You can read all or part of this story. The story
was originally found at: diva-girl-parties-and-stuff.com/right-left-christmas-game.html

ry
Right left Christmas game nativity sto
one lEft living in the
cided to count every
In those days , Caesar Augustus de
HT to his town of
ing Mary with him RIG
whole Roman wo rld. Joseph lEft, tak
Bethlehem to register.

inns in Bethlehem
rooms lEft. All of the
When they arrived, there were no
stay. Finally,
ere lEft for them to
were RigHt ful l. There was just nowh
ir stable.
them stay RigHt in the
so meone offered to let

e came for her to
thlehem the RigHt tim
Mary was pre gnant and while in Be
a Bethlehem
there. RigHt there in
give birth. She ga ve birth to a boy RigHt ft over
ry wrapped him with lE
stable, the Savior of the world was born. Ma
er.
him RigHt in a mang
strips of cloth and laid

at night RigHt in
Bethlehem were out
Some shepherds who lived RigHt near
t light. The
then, they saw a brigh
their fields watching over their sheep. RigHt ened them
ir eyes. When they op
t they had to close the
light was so bright tha e them with
in the sky RIGHT abov
l was standing RigHt
again, a beautiful ange other and
looked RigHt at each
his arms lE ft opened wide. The shepherds
ry afraid.
were lEft feeling ve

I’m RigHt here to bring
Then the angel spoke
Rig Ht to them, “Do not be afraid.
ft for all people. Today Rig
Ht in Bethlehem a baby has
you the good news lE world. You will know
one that will save the
is the RigHt one, the
been born. He d laying RigHt
wrapped in cloths, an
the RIGHTbaby be cause He will be lEft
in a manger.”

re, and they said,
ls appeared RigHt the
RigHt then, a large group of ange
ace be to all people lE
ft on the earth.”
“Glory to God, and pe

The shepherds were
lEft amazed and excited. Th
to see this baby the an ey had to go RigHt away
gels were talking abou
t.

They lEft as fast as they could an
d soon found Mary, Jo
RigHt were the angels said the seph, and baby Jesus
y would be. The shep
knees when they saw herds fell RigHt to the
Jesus, and were lEft ir
filled with joy that the
the Savior. They staye y had found
d for a short time and
then lEft. As soon as
they began shouting they lEft
RigHt in the streets and tellin
about what they had
seen. g everyone lEft in tow
n

RigHt after Jesus was born, wi
se men traveling RigHt
a very strange star Rig on their camels noticed
Ht in the sky. They knew that
would save the world
had been born. the RigHt One who

RigHt away King Herod got ve
ry worried. He assemb
people lEft in the are led all of the important
a and asked them wh
ere this baby had been
people replied, “RigHt born. The
in Bethlehem.”

RigHt then King Herod called
the wise men to meet
asked them to go and with him RigHt away
find the child RigHt aw . He
ay. “RigHt as soon as
Him,” he said, “tell me, you find
so that I can go to Him
RigHt away and worship Him
.”
After the wise men sp
oke to the King, they
know RigHt where the
lEft to find the baby. They did
He was, but followed n’t
the star lEft in the ea
hung RigHt over the st until it
place where Jesus wa
s. When they found Je
bowed RigHt down sus, they
and worshiped Him.

RigHt after that, they opened
the gifts they had bro
frankincense, and my ught Jesus— gold,
rrh. Then they lEft to
find a place to sleep
for the night.
That night the wise me
n all had the same dre
am RigHt as they we
They were not to go re sleeping.
RigHt back and tell King Herod
where they had found

jealous of Him. So,
sus because he was
Jesus. King Herod wanted to kill Je know the
that Herod would not
the wise men lEft for home another way so n that they
also decided RigHt the
y had come from. They
RigHt direction the rod anything about what they had seen.
would not tell King He

in a dream and said,
l appeared to Joseph
When the wi se men lEft, an ange HT
s and Mary, and run Rig
Ht to Egypt.” Joseph got up RIG
“Arise, take Jesu d they lEft in
d Jesus RigHt up an
away and woke up Mary. She quickly picke
uld be safe.
Egypt where they wo
the middle of the night for

l appeared again Rig
Ht away to Joseph
RigHt after Kin g Herod died, an ange
reth. And that’s RigHt
where
and told him to go RigHt to a place called Naza
Jesus grew up.

REflECt
DisCuss AnD DisCovER tRutHs fRom goD’s stoRy
• What did you see in your mind as you listened to the story?
• What did you notice for the first time? If you could be one of the
characters in the story, who would you be?
• What would you like to tell God after listening to this great story?
• What do you sense the Holy Spirit wants you to do with what you know
about Christmas? What would hold you back? What might you be afraid
of? Hear the angels, God’s messengers, say, “Do not be afraid.”

•

REsponsE
pERsonAlly ConnECting goD’s stoRy to my stoRy
•
#1 CHRistmAs CARol oRiginAl
As a family, take a familiar tune and put in your own lyrics about what Christmas
means to you. As a family, take a familiar tune and put in your own lyrics about
what Christmas means to you. Try making your song into a rap. Different people can
make the background noises while one person reads the lyrics to the beat.

#2 BiRtHDAy pREsEnt foR JEsus
Some preparation by each person may need to happen to make this activity most
effective. For the Advent Time this week, each person is to bring something they
think Jesus would want to personally receive from them. It could be a written note
or a handmade present. Maybe it is a song or a work of art. Maybe it is to help with
a household project. What would Jesus want to receive from each person as His
birthday present? Each person can share what they brought and why they want to
give it to Jesus.

BlEssing
From Isaiah 9:6-7:
May you walk in confidence
knowing that Jesus is in control,
that He will be your Wonderful
Counselor, that He is a Mighty God,
that He will be your Father forever,
and that He is your peace that
passes all understanding. May you
always be fearless, remembering
that Christmas is about God’s love
and desire for you to remain in Him.

Advent Devotional

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